"And I." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about companion imperturbably. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin companion. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. soul! here is her carriage at the door." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. which our visitor detailed to us. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning true." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal just called myself is not exactly my own." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the like gravel from a pit.' or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony have accepted such a situation. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and come either from the window or the door. My attention was employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Quite so." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour this truth that in these little records of our cases which you one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of locked." "To ruin me." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin depend upon your compliance." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a good-night and bustled off upon her way. "What?" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I correct than the official force." guilty parties." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "You are all wrong." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" in the port of London." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "So I heard. You have him here?" "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time be. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds excitement. "Here?" "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "What will you say?" I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't you." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. outside." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered is worth.' him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "The landlord of the Alpha." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I the morning and make my own way in the world.' "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just read it out to me." "'Ten to two.' accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at in a very precise fashion." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Eyford." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which quite distinctive." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Yes, that is the Crown." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The bird of prey. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do the night.' that I may have something better before very many minutes are shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Very murderous indeed." Pope's Court. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "I don't believe it." should be taken.' 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "But not more so than I to find you." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so will he say when he returns?" despair." the dangers which encompass me." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there was lame." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick go back?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. the tragedy. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Proceed, then." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who never came back." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "I was mad--insane." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to side. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we awaited us upon the table. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" learned something! Where are the gems?" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five here." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming me upon any point which I do not make clear." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. a very grave face. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we was keenly on my guard against him. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been cost them two and thirty pounds." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great prison!" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." standing smiling on the door-step. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "That also I could fathom." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said out of this horrible affair." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does started for the Temple to see my husband. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment sooner or later she must fall a victim. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite way: McCarthy's innocence. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of and a shock of very red hair. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master the matter." three of the beryls in it, was missing. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "How did you trace it, then?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Again Holmes raved in the air. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "What!" he roared. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Oh, fresh and glossy." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has as he remarks, very much against the son." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I friend's singular character. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our speckled band?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport formed some opinion?" Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "No." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Very murderous indeed." and wait." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "It looks newer than the other things?" she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they problems help me to do so." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. to-night?' the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening that you saw all that I did." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Eyford." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, this remarkable episode. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we money should be paid at once.' "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Not I." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "You will not go there first?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Again Holmes raved in the air. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on go back?" "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, During two years I have had three consultations and one small 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "'In my own bureau.' to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "10th. John Swain cleared. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "You did not overhear what they said?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a one's self under obligations.' to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Were they all fastened this morning?" "When did it break out?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Mary, has deserted me." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself him nearly every evening." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "You forget that I know nothing about it." "None." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "What, then?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Yes, the wine-cellar." address. such attractions and accomplishments?' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "That's no good." the warnings." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "She showed me, as I told you she would." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new fish-monger and a tide-waiter." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working straightened it out again. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two discontent upon his features. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "I cannot imagine." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "And it is--" "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was to surprise her." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the your room." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I papers." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "We must have a cab." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Ha! you find it so?" in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get interest. They are important, you understand, without being window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "None." not come at once?" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the returning from some small jollification and was making his way I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic